Summary
A behind the scenes look at writing screenplays in Hollywood including the deals made and how words on the page translate in front of the camera. Goldman's book also contains the screenplay for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Critique
Goldman supplements his own memories with many interviews of film industry people, and reaches back through Hollywood history for a revealing complete look at the elements that make a movie. He talks about who makes movies, how it all works, and specifically with what a writer must be concerned. I found his discussion of the term "comic-book movie" especially interesting because it is not defined as literally and simply as you might expect. Then he moves into more personal territory by sharing the adventures he experienced as a screenplay writer. Perhaps his most well known adventure/script was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He gives more pages to the process of this movie making it to the screen, and includes the full script. Finally he takes us through the thought process of adapting one of his own short stories into a screenplay and interviews different movie professionals for their opinions about how they would make this short movie. Goldman offers a wealth of tips for young writers and has a very enjoyable writing style. It takes well over 500 pages for him to impart all this valuable information.